May is National Military Month and the Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority is proud to celebrate the veterans we have working to help shape the future of healthcare for the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians. The Healthy Opportunities Pilot (HOP) Program officially launches in July, and at the helm of this innovative initiative is Chavella Esquivel McCoy, a retired Senior Chief Master-at-Arms (MACS), Surface Warfare (SW) Navy veteran, an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and a lifelong servant leader. Under McCoy’s leadership, this summer marks the beginning of a new chapter in whole-person healthcare for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
After an accomplished military career that took her across the world and through the ranks of the U.S. Navy, Chavella returned home to serve her community—not with a uniform, but with heart, purpose, and vision. Today, she leads as Director of the HOP Program within EBCI Tribal Option, bringing both tactical expertise and lived experience to the role.
“One big lesson I learned while serving in the military is that preventative maintenance can prolong the life of the tools and assets we are given,” Chavella said. “Our spirits, bodies, and minds are our most valuable assets.”
That military mindset—proactive care and preparation—shapes her vision for HOP. Just like vehicles require regular oil changes and tire rotations before the check engine light comes on, Chavella believes we must tend to our physical and emotional health before crisis strikes. The Healthy Opportunities Pilot Program is rooted in that very philosophy.
The HOP Program focuses on evidence-based, non-medical interventions that address unmet basic needs—the kinds of things that can directly affect health outcomes, but often go overlooked in traditional healthcare settings.
Through the pilot, Tribal Option members can receive support like:
- Healthy food boxes and nutritional classes
- Home food delivery
- Help addressing housing instability, lack of transportation, and interpersonal safety
These supports aren’t just add-ons, they’re essential building blocks for lasting health. “I have seen first-hand how not having basic needs met can cause such a negative ripple effect in a person’s life. Sometimes it can take just one interaction, one person, one program, and one change to make ‘the difference’ in a person’s life,” Chavella explained. “Healthy change for even just one person can create a ripple effect in the right direction, and I am glad I get to be witness to that in our community. The way I see it, we are investing in the future generations of our community by providing healthy opportunities.”
Chavella’s return to Cherokee isn’t just professional—it’s personal. She grew up in this community and has witnessed the impact of poverty, barriers to care, and health disparities up close. “I came home to serve. I get to be a part of building a program that invests in the future generations of our community,” she said.
That investment is already underway. With HOP launching this summer, eligible Tribal Option enrollees will soon begin receiving support that prioritizes their whole well-being—not just when they’re sick, but every day in between.
Chavella credits her military experience for shaping the leader she is today. The Navy taught her that no one steps into a new role fully formed—you learn, you listen, and you grow. “Good leadership also requires good followership,” she shared. “Because we do nothing for just ourselves.”
Today, she brings that mindset to the incredible Tribal Option team, whose core values reflect the Cherokee principles of U wa shv u da nv te lv (“the one who gives from their heart”) and Di qwa ste li I yu nis di (“like my own family to me”).
“I’ll remember all that I learned in military service to help make this program a success—because we know our community deserves it,” said Chavella.